FORGETFULNESS

At Mike’s follow-up appointment on Tuesday (Jan. 28), another long-arm cast was applied to keep the wrist immobile – and keep him from doing too much. He’s getting along well but has pain from time to time. Meanwhile, he does as much for himself as he can. I button his buttons and carry in wood a few sticks at a time.

Mike’s glasses weren’t found at the surgery center, so I realized it would be up to us (me) to find them. If Mike had rejected wearing the glasses as we left there after surgery, what would he have done with them, I asked myself. What about a shirt or jacket pocket? I hated to admit I couldn’t remember what he wore, and he said he couldn’t either, but he had checked the pocket of the jacket he thought he had worn. Aha! He didn't wear that jacket. I went immediately to another jacket, and sure enough – there they were in the pocket!

Now, as February approaches, if I could just find the fabric for the quilt I was going to make in January. My philosophy is that at some point you just have to quit searching, calm down, and follow your leads. It will eventually turn up.

My little reward, a sewing journal, came yesterday. I shopped many project planners and even downloadable designs before landing on this pretty book. It has room to detail 50 projects, and I hope it not only helps to focus me but also to prevent the repetition of projects, which can certainly happen. You’d think it wouldn’t. You’d think my memory would say, “I’ve made this before,” but it doesn’t always – not any more. 

This book was designed by Amanda Kastner. The quote on the cover is from Jane Austen: "Dress is at all times a frivolous distinction." KW

BONANZA BOX OF SWIMSUIT FABRIC

I have finished a muumuu for Hazel. I think a week elapsed from the time I cut it out until the final seam was sewn, but hey – for me, that’s pretty good. The next dress is cut out and the machine ready to stitch.

Long ago, I decided I’d rather spend for what I really want than buy a grab bag, but sometimes I can’t help myself. I don’t have a variety of knits in my collection, so when an online business, “The FabricFairy,” offered a “bonanza box” of flawed swimsuit fabric for $25, I found myself pulling out my credit card and going for it. I ordered the 16^th, and it was delivered today -- 12 cuts stuffed into a “priority mail” box.

I didn’t measure the cuts, but I assure you, it’s plenty of fabric – probably 100 doll swimsuits. Swimsuit knits are expensive these days, so I’m thinking if I don’t use more than the three or four cuts that I love, it was still a good value, plus black always comes in handy. I can easily work around the flaws, but anyway, Hazel, Molly, Maryellen, Shirley Anne, Esmee, and Lexy won’t care. (Haven’t heard from Elizabeth lately. She may be hiding under a bed.)

So, what else can you make with spandex besides swimsuits? Leggings? Shirts? Shorts? Skirts and sarongs? I’m thinking the fabric would have a nice drape. Would a dress out of spandex be strange?

REAL TIME UPDATE:

The first daffodils have passed and the ornamental apple tree has dropped most all its blossoms. Looks like the yarrow will bloom soon, and I do hope some of them will have color.

Mike and I look forward to a trip to the farm tomorrow. The 4-wheeler is loaded on the bed of the Silverado. Wish us luck . . . KW

OBSESSIVELY OBSESSED

I had lined out a number of patterns, planning to make many skirts for 18-inch dolls, but then I messaged my niece Becky to inquire about her recent Hawaiian vacation with her son and his family. Becky responded in enthusiastic terms and went on to say, “We saw some Hawaiian outfits for AG dolls in Maui.  Not sure if that's something you could make or not.  Allyn really got into the Hawaii atmosphere and clothes, jewelry, etc.” (AG doll Hazel belongs to Allyn, and I am the apparent source for Hazel’s wardrobe.) I love to follow a girl’s – er, doll’s – interests when I sew for them, so I immediately responded with, “Yes, I CAN make Hawaiian outfits. Why didn’t we think of this sooner?”

That’s all it takes, you know, to send me off on a tangent. First, I reviewed my digital patterns and found I already had a number of Hawaiian or tropical designs in my collection, so I moved them to a sub-file titled, “Hawaiian and Beachwear.” Next, I reviewed my paper patterns and books for anything remotely appropriate for a tropical vacation and posted those on my bulletin board. Then I moved to Pinterest and made a sub-board titled, “Hazel’s Hawaiian Vacation,” which includes pictures of any remotely tropical-like patterns, including some I don’t own – yet.

Six Hawaiian prints

Becky said that Allyn loved the Hawaiian floral prints. I didn’t have any on hand, so I ordered yardage from the Hawaii Fabric Mart. While I waited for my order to arrive (and as it turned out I didn't have to wait long), I visited JoAnn Fabrics, where I selected three tropical designs from the six bolts that qualified. “Some of our customers carry an extra suitcase when they go to Hawaii so that they can bring home fabric,” said the sales associate. Well, we weren’t thinking about that at the time, and besides, it was someone else’s vacation. The challenge is that tropical floral prints are typically large, and I think of dolls in small prints, but I decided not to worry about that. Hazel just wants to wear muumuus in bright colors.

A few days of organizational work went by before I was ready to begin the Hawaiian project. And besides, I also had to finish the two skirts I was making. And then, since a skirt is useless without a top, I made halter tops to complete the outfits. The first Hawaiian sundress is coming along well – but that’s a story for another day. KW

[Above: My Maryellen, probably closest in size to Hazel, models the finished skirt outfits.]